Letters to the Editor: Staff are dedicated to children's services

Further to your article we welcome Ofsted's findings and like many of the other 17 local authorities to receive the "requires improvement" judgment, we have a dedicated workforce that is committed to turning the service around.

Of course, Ofsted highlighted areas for further improvement, but importantly it also acknowledged the significant progress made since we were "inadequate" 16 months ago, with team managers taking "swift, robust and effective action to improve services".

We were very pleased that Ofsted's inspectors saw evidence of the good quality work that our social work teams do every day.

Our priorities over the past year have been to cut our reliance on temporary agency social workers. Now nine out of 10 social workers are permanent employees of the council - up from 50 per cent just over a year ago. We now have a stable and committed workforce, which is essential to making further improvements.

This latest judgment from Ofsted shows a significant step forward for Southampton and we believe that the foundations for further improvements are now firmly in place.

Alison Elliott, director of people, Southampton City Council

Raise priority for children and families

4Children's recent poll found that family life is harder than it was 30 years ago for 46 per cent of respondents, with a further 27 per cent describing themselves as "just coping".

At the same time, half of those polled said political parties should do more for children and families.

These are important messages for the political parties as they meet in their final party conferences before the general election next year (see analysis, p11).

4Children believes that, as we emerge from the economic crisis, there is an urgent need to increase our ambition for children and families in Britain. That is why we have published a manifesto for change for the next parliament that sets out priorities for children, young people and families.

Better help and support in the early years, backed up with a call for a guarantee of universal quality, affordable childcare for every parent of a 0- to 14-year-old who needs it; opening up more school buildings for before and after-school childcare and holiday activities; and universal support for young people are at the heart of our manifesto.

Anne Longfield, chief executive, 4Children